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John Jacob Astor IV Et De Ses Proches / Alain Dufief

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John Jacob Astor IV Et De Ses Proches / Alain Dufief © CollectionIN Alice MARTINES ICA R É À CHERB M UE O Q U A R R John Jacob aSToR IV A G B M Homme d’affaires, 47 ans E E S PA S S LA S E C AGER 1R U DISPAR Pour en savoir plus © Library of Congress Les fascinants destins de John Jacob Astor IV et de ses proches / Alain Dufief. In : Latitude 41. - Association française du Titanic. - N° 20 (Juillet-Septembre 2003). John Jacob ASTOR IV est né le 13 juillet 1864 à Rhinebeck dans l’État de New York (États- Unis). Son arrière-grand-père, émigrant allemand, a fait fortune dans le commerce des fourrures puis dans l’acquisition de biens immobiliers. Il débute sa scolarité à la « St. Paul’s School » située à une centaine de kilomètres de Boston, puis intègre l’Université de Harvard, où il étudie pendant 3 ans, sans décrocher de diplôme. Après avoir voyagé dans le monde entier, entre 1888 et 1891, il revient aux États-Unis pour Reproduction interdite - © La Cité de la Mer - 2012 - Mer la de Cité La © - interdite Reproduction gérer la fortune familiale, et épouse Ava LOWLE WILLING dont il aura 2 enfants. Ils divorcent en 1909. Attiré par les sciences et la mécanique, il publie, en 1894, une nouvelle de science-fiction intitulée A Journey in Other World et développe plusieurs dispositifs mécaniques dont le frein de bicyclette en 1898. Il participe également à l’amélioration du moteur à turbine et à l’invention d’un pneu routier adapté. Il défraie la chronique en 1911 en se remariant avec Madeleine FORCE, une jeune fille de 18 ans. Afin de fuir le scandale, les jeunes mariés passent l’hiver en Égypte puis à Paris. Au printemps 1912, Madeleine étant enceinte de 5 mois, ils décident de rejoindre les États- Unis et embarquent à Cherbourg sur le Titanic, en 1re classe. LE SAVIEZ-VOUS ? © Library of Congress Lors de l’escale de Queenstown, des marchands venus vendre essentiellement des articles de textile montent à bord du Titanic. Le Colonel ASTOR achète à l’un d’eux un châle de fine dentelle pour son épouse, qu’il paye 165 livres, une fortune pour l’époque ! http://www.citedelamer.com http://cherbourg-titanic.com/ http://mediathequedelamer.com John Jacob aSToR IV Homme d’affaires, 47 ans Ils sont accompagnés de leurs domestiques : M. Victor ROBBINS, Mlle Rosalie BIDOIS et Mlle Caroline Louise ENDRES, l’infirmière de Mme ASTOR. Leur chien, Kitty fait également parti du voyage. © Library of Congress John et Madeleine ASTOR À bord du Titanic, John Jacob ASTOR est sans conteste un des passagers les plus riches. Les ASTOR côtoient les grands noms de la société nord-américaine, notamment Margaret BROWN, lors des dîners ou des parties de bridge, et John Jacob discute fréquemment avec le commandant SMITH, étayant ainsi sa passion pour la mécanique. Après la collision, le Colonel ASTOR quitte sa suite pour s’informer. Il revient rapidement auprès de Madeleine pour lui annoncer que le bateau a percuté un iceberg. Il la rassure en lui disant que l’accident ne lui semble pas sérieux. Ils se rendent ensuite dans le gymnase et s’installent sur des chevaux mécaniques. Ils portent leurs gilets de sauvetage mais le colonel ASTOR en trouve d’autres et coupe la doublure avec son stylo-plume pour 2012 - Mer la de Cité La © - interdite Reproduction montrer à sa femme de quoi ils sont faits. Jusqu’à la mise à l’eau des canots, le colonel ASTOR se montre imperturbable, trouvant ridicule de quitter les ponts solides du Titanic pour ces petites embarcations. « Nous sommes plus en sécurité ici que sur ces petits bateaux ». Il change d’avis vers 1h45, lorsque le 2e officier LIGHTOLLER arrive sur le pont A pour embarquer les derniers passagers à bord du canot n°4. John Jacob ASTOR aide alors son épouse à grimper dans le canot puis demande à l’officier s’il peut l’accompagner car elle se trouve dans une « situation délicate ». LIGHTOLLER lui répond qu’aucun homme ne peut quitter le navire tant que toutes les femmes n’ont pas été embarquées à bord des canots. ASTOR s’incline et lui demande simplement le n° du canot. Le corps du Colonel John Jacob ASTOR IV est retrouvé le lundi 22 avril 1912 par le câblier McKay-Bennett. Il est rapatrié le 1er mai 1912 et est enterré au cimetière Trinity à New York. http://www.citedelamer.com http://cherbourg-titanic.com/ http://mediathequedelamer.com.
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